Body of Va. man recovered from Potomac River

July 20, 2013

HARPERS FERRY - The body of a 25-year-old Virginia man was recovered from the Potomac River on Saturday, a day after he was swept downstream and underwater near Harpers Ferry by a strong current.

The body of Joshua Carr, of Hamilton, was found at about 3 p.m. Saturday and has been taken to the medical examiner's office in Baltimore.

According to a press release issued by Capt. Jerry Kirkwood, a public information officer with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police, at about 2:30 p.m. Friday Carr and Jennifer Furselle, 22, of Purcellville, Va., were swimming in the Potomac River near Harpers Ferry.

The two entered the river from the West Virginia side and swam out into the current. After encountering the strong current, the two began to struggle and attempted to return to shore, Natural Resources Police officials said.

Carr struggled in the current and began to be swept downstream. Furselle attempted to help Carr, but he went beneath the surface of the water. Furselle swam towards the shore and called out to others in the area for help.

Rescue personnel from both West Virginia and Maryland arrived at the scene and began searching the waters for Carr. Rescue divers attempted to search beneath the surface, but strong currents prevented them from continuing the underwater search.

The search was suspended at approximately 8:40 p.m. Friday due to hazardous conditions and darkness.

Rescue workers and the Natural Resources Police continued the search Saturday until his body was discovered.

A Natural Resources Police investigator has been assigned to conduct an investigation.

Preliminary indications suggest the incident was a swimming accident involving current conditions that were stronger than anticipated, officials said.